Display apparatus

ABSTRACT

The display apparatus according to the present invention comprises a transmission type of fluorescent display lamp (FL)  1  which pattern layer is not masked. The rear and front spaces of the transmission type FL  1  are defined by frames  5, 6.  On each frame  5, 6  is attached an illumination display member (a light guide plate  8  or a transmission sheet  9 ) so that illumination displays are performed at both front and rear sides of the FL  1  by a light emitting source  10  such as LED, fluorescent lamp and so on. Thus, more three-dimensional visual effect (depth perception) can be obtained. Further, utilizing spaces in the front and the rear of the transmission type FL  1,  more wide representation and functional display through a microcomputer control can be performed. Use of the light emitting source  10  contemplates cost down in comparison with the conventional biplanar type of FL.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a display apparatus,particularly to a display apparatus comprising a combination of atransmission type of display element such as a fluorescent display lamp(hereinafter, referred to as FL) and an illumination display, obtaininga three-dimensional visual effect and performing a functional displaythrough a microcomputer control.

[0002]FIG. 7 shows a front view of a conventional display apparatususing a biplanar type of FL 1 and FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of theapparatus. As shown in FIG. 8, the biplanar type of FL comprises twopattern layers, i.e., a front pattern layer 7 and a rear pattern layer13 between which a space is defined. Each pattern layer makes differentdisplay to obtain a three-dimensional visual effect. Through onlyelectrodes connected to the rear pattern layer 13, the fluorescentsubstances printed on both pattern layers 7 and 13 are energized togenerate light. In order to keep the brightness of the pattern layers 7and 13 same level, the distance of the space between the pattern layers7 and 13 must be substantially 3 mm. The front pattern layer 7 use atransmission type, while the rear pattern layer 13 is opaque in order tomake the elements on the substrate invisible. As shown in FIG. 7, in thecase of showing a speaker arrangement of an audio equipment, because ofthe limitation of the pattern on the FL 1, the size of the speaker to bedisplayed is limited. Even though both the center speaker display 2 andthe front speaker display 3 are performed by the rear pattern layer 13and the rear speaker display 4 is performed by the front pattern layer7, a depth perception is not all that enough since the distance of thespace between the pattern layers 7 and 13 is only substantially 3 mm.

[0003] Thus, in the conventional biplanar type of FL 1, since the spacebetween pattern layers is only substantially 3 mm and the depthperception is less, a little three-dimensional visual effect can beobtained. Though a functional display can be performed via amicrocomputer control, the display is limited within the FL 1,restricting the content and size of the display. In addition, the costconsiderably goes up in comparison with a typical single layer type ofFL.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention has been developed to substantiallyeliminate the above-described disadvantages.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide adisplay apparatus which can have more depth perception than the biplanartype of FL by utilizing non-limiting spaces in the front and the rear ofFL and can make a wide representation.

[0006] It is an another object of the present invention to provide adisplay apparatus which comprises a combination of an FL display and anillumination display to perform a functional display through amicrocomputer control.

[0007] It is an still another object of the present invention to providea display apparatus which can contemplate cost down.

[0008] In order to attain the aforementioned objects, there is provideda display apparatus, comprising: a transmission type of display element;a first frame for defining a front space positioned in the front of thetransmission type of display element; a second frame for defining a rearspace positioned in the rear of the transmission type of displayelement; an illumination display member attached on the face of thefirst frame or the second frame; and a light emitting source forirradiating a light to the illumination display member.

[0009] Thus, according to the present invention, more three-dimensionalvisual effect (depth perception) can be obtained. Further, utilizingspaces in the front and the rear of the transmission type FL, more widerepresentation and functional display through a microcomputer controlcan be performed. Use of the light emitting source such as LED,fluorescent lamp and so on contemplates cost down in comparison with theconventional biplanar type of FL.

[0010] Preferably, the display element may comprise one selected fromthe group consisting of a fluorescent display lamp, anelectroluminescence and a liquid crystal display.

[0011] The first frame may have a rectangular shape comprising upper andlower walls and both side walls, while the second frame may have arectangular box shape comprising upper and lower walls, both side wallsand a back wall.

[0012] The illumination display member may have a predetermined displayprinted thereon.

[0013] The illumination display member may comprise a transmission sheetor a light guide plate. The transmission sheet may be colored with apredetermined color.

[0014] The light emitting source may comprise a light emitting diode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome clear from the following description taken in conjunction withthe preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a front view of a display apparatus of an audioequipment according to a first embodiment of the present invention whichcan display a speaker arrangement as an example of display;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a front view of a display apparatus of an audioequipment according to a second embodiment of the present inventionwhich can display a seat position as an example of display;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 3;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a front view of a display apparatus of an audioequipment according to a third embodiment of the present invention whichcan display a graphic as an example of display;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 5;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a front view of a display apparatus using a conventionalbiplanar type of FL; and

[0023]FIG. 8 is a sectional view of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] First Embodiment

[0025] In the first embodiment of the present invention, a displayapparatus of an audio equipment which can display a speaker arrangementas an example of display will be explained. FIG. 1 is a front view ofthe display apparatus in the first embodiment of the present inventionand FIG. 2 is a sectional view thereof.

[0026] Numeral 1 denotes a transmission type of fluorescent display lamp(FL) having pattern layers 7. In the front and the rear of the FL 1, afirst frame 5 and a second frame 6 are provided respectively. The firstframe 5 have a rectangular shape comprising upper and lower walls andboth side walls to define a front space in the front of the FL 1. Thesecond frame 6 have a rectangular box shape comprising upper and lowerwalls, both side walls and a back wall to define a rear space in therear of the FL 1.

[0027] On the lower wall of the first frame 5 are attached light guideplates 8 on each of which a rear speaker display 4 is printed. On theback wall of the second frame 6 are formed three openings 9a. Theopenings 9a are covered with transmission sheets 9 on which a centerspeaker display 2 and front speaker displays 3 are printed respectively.Adjacent to the light guide plates 8 and the transmission sheets 9,light emitting sources 10 such as LED and so on for irradiating a lightto the speaker displays 2, 3, 4 of the light guide plates 8 and thetransmission sheet 9 are disposed. Alternatively, the rear speakerdisplay 4 may be performed not by the light guide plates 8 but bytransmission sheets on which rear speaker displays are printed and whichare attached on the left and right walls of the first frame 5.

[0028] Turning the LED 10 on, lights are irradiated to the light guideplates 8 and the transmission sheets 9 respectively. Thus, the rearspeaker displays 4 are illuminated in the front of the FL 1 and thecenter and front speaker displays 2 and 3 are illuminated in the rear ofthe FL 1, obtaining a three-dimensional visual effect. By means of themicrocomputer control, a functional display can be performed. Forexample, the display by the FL 1 and the speaker displays by theilluminations can be combined to illuminate only the speakers which arepresently operated.

[0029] Second Embodiment

[0030] In the following second and third embodiments, same numerals areaffixed to the same parts as that in the first embodiment to omit theexplanation thereof.

[0031] In the second embodiment of the present invention, a displayapparatus of an audio equipment which can display a seat positionshowing a selected listener's position as an example of display will beexplained. The seat position is a function that the sound from thespeaker is adjusted based on the listener's position to make an optimumsound field at the listener's position and at the same time wink one ofa plurality of square areas divided on the FL 1 to show the listener'sposition. FIG. 3 is a front view of the display apparatus in the secondembodiment of the present invention and FIG. 4 is a sectional viewthereof.

[0032] On the lower walls of the first frame 5 and the second frame 6are formed total nine openings 9a in a manner of lattice window. Theopenings 9a are covered with transmission sheets 9 which are coloredwith an appropriate color. Adjacent to the transmission sheets 9, lightemitting sources 10 such as LED and so on for irradiating lights to thetransmission sheets 9 are disposed.

[0033] Turning the LED 10 on, light is irradiated to the transmissionsheet 9 corresponding to the selected listener's position. Thus, theseat position displays 11 is illuminated either in the front or the rearof the FL 1, obtaining a three-dimensional visual effect. By means ofthe microcomputer control, functional display, for example, it can bealso performed to illuminate the seat position which matches with thesound field.

[0034] Third Embodiment

[0035] In the third embodiment of the present invention, a displayapparatus of an audio equipment which can display a graphic as anexample of display will be explained. FIG. is a front view of thedisplay apparatus in the third embodiment of the present invention andFIG. 6 is a sectional view thereof.

[0036] On the left and right side walls (alternatively, the upper andlower walls) of the first frame 5 and the second frame 6 are formedtotal twelve openings 9a in a manner of lattice window. The openings 9aare covered with transmission sheets 9 which are colored with anappropriate color. Adjacent to the transmission sheets 9, light emittingsources 10 such as LED and so on for irradiating lights to thetransmission sheets 9 are disposed.

[0037] Turning the LED 10 on, lights are irradiated to the transmissionsheets 9 respectively. Thus, the graphic displays 12 using the walls ofthe first and second frames 5, 6 are performed in both the front and therear of the FL 1, obtaining a three-dimensional visual effect. By meansof a microcomputer control, it can be performed to display sound levelsand wink the displays based on the rhythm. Further, it can be alsoperformed to combine the display by the FL 1 and not only the graphicdisplays 12 but also the speaker arrangements 2, 3, 4 and the seatposition displays 11 by the illuminations to perform a multifunctiondisplay having the three-dimensional visual effect.

[0038] In the aforementioned first, second and third embodiments,although the transmission type of FL is used—as a transmission typeelement, the present invention is not limited to the transmission typeof FL. As a transmission type element, EL (electroluminescence), LCD (aliquid crystal display) and so on may be used.

[0039] Although the present invention has been fully described by way ofthe examples with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to benoted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, unless such changes and modificationsotherwise depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention,they should be construed as being included therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus, comprising: a transmissiontype of display element; a first frame for defining a front spacepositioned in the front of the transmission type of display element; asecond frame for defining a rear space positioned in the rear of thetransmission type of display element; an illumination display memberattached on the face of the first frame or the second frame; and a lightemitting source for irradiating a light to the illumination displaymember.
 2. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein thedisplay element comprises one selected from the group consisting of afluorescent display lamp, an electroluminescence and a liquid crystaldisplay.
 3. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstframe has a rectangular shape comprising upper and lower walls and bothside walls.
 4. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein thesecond frame has a rectangular box shape comprising upper and lowerwalls, both side walls and a back wall.
 5. A display apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein, the illumination display member has apredetermined display printed thereon.
 6. A display apparatus as claimedin claim 1, wherein, the illumination display member comprises atransmission sheet.
 7. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 6,wherein, the transmission sheet is colored with a predetermined color.8. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the illuminationdisplay member comprises a light guide plate.
 9. A display apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein, the light emitting source comprises a lightemitting diode.